POLICE are asking parents if they know what their children have been up to over the school holidays after a spate of antisocial behaviour in Salisbury.

Officers are urging parents to take responsibility for their children after a group of youths caused disruption throughout the city centre over the festive period.

UPDATE: 13-year-old boy arrested for antisocial behaviour in city >>>

It comes following an incident in which two youths were caught on camera hanging on to the back of a moving bus in Salisbury, as well as youths being verbally abusive and causing damage to local shops.

Over the festive period, the local community policing team has issued Section 35 dispersal orders on a number of occasions to prevent continued harassment, alarm and distress being caused to members of the public.

On December 29, a dispersal order was put in place for the city centre which ensured that anyone caught acting in an anti-social manner would be directed to leave the area. Failure to do so would result in them being arrested.

This order was in place over the course of the weekend following a number of reports regarding youths throwing cafe chairs around in Winchester Street, youths being abusive to staff in McDonald’s and refusing to leave, and a further report of youths being abusive to staff at Sprinkles shop.

On January 2, a dispersal order was authorised for the city centre after more reports that youths were being threatening and abusive to customers inside and outside McDonalds, fighting in the street preventing cars from passing near Burger King, causing damage in the Old George Mall and grabbing hold of moving vehicles.

Acting Inspector John Hutchings said: “All of these incidents have occurred in the daytime when shops and businesses are open and the behaviour of these youths will have been in full view of passing members of the public.

“The behaviour of this small group of youths – some of whom are believed to be as young as 10 - has been a persistent problem throughout the holiday period and these orders have been put in place to prevent further distress caused to members of our local community.

We know these children are in the minority and most young people have been enjoying the festive period in a safe and law-abiding way. However, the actions of this particular group has overshadowed Christmas for many.

“We’ve released this video of two youths holding on to the back of a bus as an example of the type of behaviour being reported to police and to highlight just how mindless and reckless their behaviour is – these two boys were seen to cling to the back of the bus while it had stopped and continued to cling on to the vehicle as it started moving.

"The driver was unaware of their actions and it was only when a passing motorist flagged the driver down to tell him, that he stopped.

“Not only is their behaviour dangerous, they are also committing offences and we will take action if deemed the appropriate and proportionate response.

“I would ask parents whose children are regularly out and about in the city centre to ensure they know where their children are and how they are behaving. I am sure that like me, any parent present with their children would not allow them to behave in this manner, and it is unacceptable for a child to think that this behaviour is in any way normal or indeed acceptable, and we therefore need to ensure that we collectively act to discourage this activity.”